By Nancy Beal

Beals Island became the scene of a horrendous house fire on March 28, as two island ladies lost their home in a conflagration that required four fire departments to extinguish. 

It took about three hours for the old Danny and Susie Alley homestead, where their daughter and friend were living, to be reduced to ashes and memories. Meanwhile, neighbors, friends, and curious onlookers could only watch and hope the flames would not spread in the tightly packed neighborhood.

By Paul Sylvain 

Normally, it’s the volunteer fire department that rushes to battle a blaze at the home of a neighbor. However, it was the neighbors in town who, in recent weeks, turned the tables by responding to Machiasport Fire Department Chief David Neilson’s urgent plea for help.

In nothing short of a miracle, the Machiasport Fire Department more than doubled its number of volunteer firefighters over the past two months, with more people expected to sign up. 

By Nancy Beal

by Jonathan Reisman

I am more than ready for Spring, so the fresh, wet, white blanket that I observed at sunrise several days after spring had allegedly sprung was worth at least a question mark, but the preceding days of melting, initial raking, and garden prep, and baseball dreams were sufficient to somewhat salve the political and policy pounding Governor Mills and her Democratic legislative majorities have been so kindly administering to me, rural Maine, and the 2nd Congressional District.

By Paul Sylvain

Whitneyville Selectboard Chairman Nate Pennell is disputing claims at a public meeting that his town was invited but failed to attend a March 21 meeting in Machias to discuss a regional policing plan being floated by Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier.

By Will Tuell

It is a cornerstone of life Downeast that, when a beloved community member is in distress, his or her family members, friends, and the broader community respond to the crisis in a big way. 

By Paul Sylvain

Looking for something fun to do with your children or grandchildren this coming weekend? We have it on good authority from Jonesboro Grange 357 that the Easter Bunny will be making an appearance via Jonesboro Volunteer Fire Department truck at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, outside Jonesboro Elementary School for a free Easter egg hunt. Rain date is April 13 at 1 p.m.

by Jonathan Reisman

This Maine political season of partisan budgets and censures, gubernatorial and presidential petulance, DEI deflection, and narrative nonsense from Maine’s Soros bought-and-sold legacy media have brought Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass into clear metaphorical focus.

My first white rabbit sighting came with apologies to Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane:

White Rabbit in Augusta

Budgets can make you larger,

The University of Maine at Machias celebrated the completion of the long-awaited Reynolds Gymnasium renovation, as students, regional and state leaders, and guests took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility rededication on April 4.

Extensive renovations to the gym include a brand new, NCAA-compliant hardwood floor, modernized bleachers with computerized mechanisms, upgraded scoreboards, a new sound system, and various other enhancements to support both student and community events.

By Paul Sylvain

A newly created position of Machias operations manager, which was vaguely funded without being specifically named in last year’s annual town meeting warrant, has been reposted with a new name — operations coordinator — and a revised set of qualifications and responsibilities. 

In the span of about a year, Sarah Craighead Dedmon went from serving as recording secretary for the Machias Selectboard and Planning Board to the town’s first operations manager, on an interim basis, and for the past two months, permanent town manager.

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias School Board last week submitted its proposed 2025-26 budget to town officials, representing an overall increase of around 3.15%, which is up $265,157 to $8,674,699, from $8,409,542 last year. However, the proverbial elephant in the room is what the education cost will actually be if President Trump makes good on his threat to withhold federal money from Maine over Gov. Janet Mills’ hard-line stand allowing transgenders born as males to play in girls’ sports in Maine’s schools.

By Nancy Beal

Some 30 Beals residents gathered in the elementary school gym April 7 to act on a 58-article warrant at their annual town meeting.

Moderator Terry Beal guided voters in a meeting lasting a little over two hours. In the end, voters agreed to raise a total of $348,251, as well as reelecting all incumbent town officers to their posts. 

One departmental position — road commissioner — was absorbed into the selectmen’s duties, and the $3,000 salary, raised for that role last year, was moved into the surplus account. 

By Nancy Beal

Jonesport Fire Chief Boyde Crowley brought good news to his town’s selectmen April 9; the department’s pumper truck that was destroyed while battling a fire on Beals on March 28 is covered by insurance. 

And he had even more good news to share with the board. The town of Cutler has loaned the Jonesport Fire Department a 40-year-old pumper until a permanent replacement for the destroyed vehicle can be found.

Jonesport’s truck was pumping water on a massive, fully involved house fire on Beals Island last

By Pierre Little

By Paul Sylvain

Seven-and-a-half years after the body of 48-year-old Wayne Foss was found dead in the charred remains of his Whitneyville mobile home, a New York City man has been sentenced to serve 16 years in prison for his role in Foss’ death.

By Doss Dennison

With two freshmen members on the three-member board of Washington County commissioners, their monthly meetings may lack the drama of some previously reported on board meetings, but Commissioners Dave Burns, John Crowley, and Billy Howard are proving themselves to be focused on efficiency in time and discussion at these meetings. 

By Jayna Smith

Mainers who plan to fly within the United States or enter secure federal buildings, time is running out to ensure your identification meets new federal standards. Beginning May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license — or another form of federally accepted identification — will be required for domestic air travel and access to certain federal facilities.